Drive to attract more foster parents

Islanders are being urged to find out more about fostering or adopting a child in National Adoption Week.

Fostering and Adoption Jersey is launching a week-long recruitment and awareness campaign, starting on Monday 19 October to coincide with National Adoption Week in the UK.

Helping prospective carers

Emmy Lindsey, Manager of Fostering and Adoption Jersey said “Providing children with high quality foster carers and adopters is at the heart of what we do. Our work includes helping prospective foster carers and adopters through every stage.

“This year we have been able to approve three new foster carers and five new adopters. We are currently working with another nine prospective foster carers and 10 prospective adopters who we are hoping to approve in the near future. We are however in need of more carers, especially foster carers who are able to consider providing a home for an older child on a permanent basis or adopters who could consider looking after sibling groups.”

Visiting Island primary schools

As part of the campaign, members of the team will also be organising a ‘school road trip’. Until 17 November (not including half-term), members of the team will be visiting the Island’s primary schools to raise awareness and speak to parents/carers who want to find out more about becoming a foster carer or adopter. Anyone interested in speaking to somebody from the team at their child’s school should contact the school to find out the time of the visit.

Emmy said “We are very fortunate in Jersey to have many wonderful foster and adoptive parents, but there is still a real need for more people to come forward. We want to be able to offer the right placement for all children who come into our care.”

Contact the Fostering and Adoption team